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Pura Vida From a Day Volunteer, Maddie Abene
By Maddie Abene Soothing sounds, beautiful views, diverse wildlife, and only a week to take it all in!? Costa Rica is unlike any place I’ve ever been. Upon my arrival, my mind was racing with ideas of how I was going to get the very most out of my trip. As an Environmental Studies Major at University of California Santa Cruz, I’m typically curious about different ecosystems and eager to interact with wildlife wherever I am in the world. The two-hour drive from San Jose Airport gave me plenty of time to take in the scenery of the mountainous jungle and ask my driver Oscar any and all questions I had about Costa Rica. I learned everything from the economic/environmental effects of Costa Rica's biggest industry (Palm Oil) to what species of tree leaves I should use to make henna-like face paint (Teak). Excited to learn more about my home for the week, I did some research and found a nearby animal rescue center that I could volunteer at: Kids Saving The Rainforest. I was excited to hear from locals that this sanctuary is one of the most renowned in all of Costa Rica! I immediately contacted the president and Operational Director of KSTR, Jennifer and Chip. They responded promptly and were very helpful. To my surprise, my younger brothers, Jake and Max, wanted to join me in this adventure. KSTR sent a taxi to pick us up early Monday morning. The drive through the palm tree forest was scenic and bumpy. There were water buffalo hauling carts of the palm fruits and goats crossing constantly. We arrived at KSTR/Blue Banyan Inn around 9am and started off with a tour to become familiar with the site and what our mission would be for the day. As soon as the tour came to an end our work began. Our mentor gave us rubber gloves and brushes and led us to a large cage where we would clean and design a new habitat for the Kinkajous. These small mammals are adorable yet vicious as they're nocturnal and don't like to be bothered during the daytime. The zookeeper and another KSTR staff member handled these animals regularly and made it look easy. Once the Kinkajous were out of their cage is when Jake, Max and I cut zip ties, removed all the old branches, took to ground and got to scrubbing. Before we knew it the habitat went from looking like a 3 star residence at best to 5 stars, complete with clean walls/floors and fresh branches strategically placed for the Kinkajous climbing enjoyment. It was important that we made their new habitat slightly different than the last since these animals need some variation in their lives to mimic the constantly changing and growing rainforest. It was getting humid and I was getting tired...lunch couldn't have come at a better time! KSTR provided us with a delicious typical Costa Rican meal of beans and rice, chicken, salad, and plenty of beverages. We spent some time refueling and chatting it up with Chip and the other volunteer siblings who were coincidentally visiting from the Bay Area. I was particularly impressed by their involvement with KSTR and the video chatting they do with other kids from all over, spreading the word about the cause. I'm hoping to join forces with them once we're all back in the Bay. After finishing lunch and taking a quick dip in the pool, it was time for us to feed the animals. Some went to the kitchen to chop up fruits and vegetables. The other half of us went with the sanctuary manager to find and capture giant Golden Orb Spiders (which is way more fun than it sounds). Once we had about ten spiders in a bucket we were ready to go. We went from cage to cage filling each animals bowl and feeding them spiders by hand. In the midst of it all it began to rain and we were all laughing, dripping wet, and having the best time ever. We proceeded to clean up our messes then and walked back to the main lodge where we would finish up around 4pm. Costa Rica will take me a lifetime to explore to my full satisfaction. In just one day on July 11 Kids Saving The Rainforest Sanctuary & Rescue Center gave me my first real opportunity to do more than just admire and understand nature through a textbook or a tour. I felt like I played a vital role in an ecosystem. It was rewarding to see the difference that our single day of volunteering made. This was a pivotal experience for me in that it helped me to discover myself. I now know for a fact that environmentalism is my calling and my niche. I'm very grateful for KSTR and all of the work they continue to do to inspire people to preserve and protect this small but important part of the world. I hope to spread this mentality on a global scale by sharing my experience and educating others about the ways to make a positive change through ecotourism. It's important to remember that we affect nature as much as it affects us.
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 Hi again Quepolandia readers! It’s Karma, the spokeskid from Kids Saving the Rainforest! This month I have a very important message to share with you, and that is about the importance of boating safety and protecting the very special marine animals that share this beautiful place in the world with all of us. I learned this lesson from a graceful animal called the sea turtle! Let me tell you how it happened: Recently, me and my amazing mama were walking on the beach when we came across two lifeguards carrying something large out of the water. We went over to see what it was, and we realized it was a large Hawksbill sea turtle! There were three big gashes cut into the shell. We hoped at first that we could call one of the groups in the area that work with sea turtles to help rescue it. Unfortunately, this poor turtle was already dead and it was too late to help her. We asked one of the lifeguards named Jhonny Lopez, what had happened. Jhonny teaches surfing lessons, and he also volunteers his time as a lifeguard helping keep everyone safe on the beach. He explained to us that the turtle had been sliced by the propeller of a boat and had washed up on shore. Some people were not showing any respect to the body, bothering it a lot, and he and the other lifeguard had moved it to safety while the turtle was reported to MINAE, the government agency who helps wildlife. My mama had their number in her phone, so she sent a message right away! Jhonny told us that many boats and jet skis come way too close in the waves to the shore, and that is very dangerous for both animals and people! He said this poor turtle might have been coming in to shore to lay her eggs. Sea turtles always return to the beach they were hatched in to lay their eggs, and this turtle Mama might have been coming to this very same beach for years and years before the boat took her life! That was a very sad experience, but it was also a lesson. I knew I was on the beach that day and saw the turtle for a reason, and now I am going to spread her message and try to make a difference for all the other amazing sea turtles who are still here with us. Turtles all around the world are beginning to fade from this planet. Danger from boats is just one of the threats they face. First things first is marine debris. Due to littering, trash is infesting the oceans, causing animals like turtles to come across it very often. For a turtle, one of the main problems are plastic bags. One of a turtle's main food source are jellyfish. And from a turtle's point of view a plastic bag looks identical to a jellyfish. If the turtle eats the plastic bag it will end up choking. They can also get caught in all that plastic, stopping them from being able to swim, eat, or even live! If you are fishing, make sure you don’t drop fishing hooks or lines into the ocean as these are very dangerous to animals. Around 100,000 marine animals die a year from marine debris. Lots of people every year travel to Costa Rica just to see sea turtles lay their eggs, and later to watch the babies hatch and make their way out into their ocean home. In November, I am very lucky I will be joining my school Life Project Education to see some of these baby hatchlings going out to the ocean for the first time! We will be working with another great non-profit helping wildlife in this area, the Matapalo Sea Turtle Conservation Project! But we have to think of the turtles all the time, not just when we can see them! If you are boating or using a jet ski, pay extra careful attention to where you are going and avoid hitting any marine life that might be floating there in the water! Slow down, and avoid boating over beds of sea grass which is the sea turtle’s habitat! Have a person on board whose job it is to watch out for any marine animals. They can wear polarized sunglasses to cut down on the glare of the sunlight on the water, making it easier for them to spot an animal and avoid hitting it! Don’t have lights on the beach at night. This can confuse turtles who use the light of the moon to find their way to the water. Even bonfires during nesting season can lead these turtles in the wrong direction! Last but not least, spread the word! If you see a problem like I did, speak up and do something about it! The planet needs the help of people like us who want to make it a better place! Don’t forget, if you find orphaned or injured wildlife, send a WhatsApp message to the Kids Saving the Rainforest veterinary team at 88-ANIMAL and we can help! You can also take a guided tour of our Wildlife Sanctuary every day except Tuesday at 9 am to meet some amazing animals and learn about the important work we are doing trying to save them. You never know, you might just see me there! Photograph of Hawksbill sea turtle courtesy of Jhonny Lopez.   Dorothy is a two-fingered sloth female we received one month ago. Unfortunately she wanted to cross the main Manuel Antonio road by an electric wire. She got electrocuted and fell on the road, so a kind person brought her quickly to the center. Electrocution cases are random; they can be really superficial or really deep, and the damage is sometimes only visible after days past the electrocution. 😢 💔 For this wonderful female, the first day we could only see where the electricity passed through the body, but several days later, we realized the real damages. The electrical burning and necrosis of tissue that sometimes continues can slow the natural healing process of wounds...and it is very painful that we can sometimes only assist her through it. Until a few days ago, Dorothy fought to remain alive, but unfortunately the wounds and probably more internal damages caused her death. It’s not always a « happy ending » for all of our patients here in the Wildlife Clinic, and the death is not easy to accept after 1 month trying to save her...but sometimes we have to. We keep fighting every day to bring freedom again, to the wildlife we can save, in the best way as we can.🌳💐🌈  Pets are incredible. But not all are treated equally. Some animals have a terrible start in life and the fortunes of others can take a turn for the worst. Many find themselves in rescue centres waiting to be placed in a new home.
Adopting one of these pets can be hugely rewarding. You’ll not only develop a close bond but witness them grow in confidence and happiness. There are thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals looking for a fresh start in life. And you could be their new best friend. Jump to: Before you adopt
In Nuevo Colon, Guanacaste, a wildlife bridge broke from overuse, forcing the wildlife to travel on the live wires killing 3 howler monkeys. KSTR was able to rally the troops and within 16 hours it was fixed and ready for the howlers again! A big thank you to ICE, especially Jaime Bolanos and Jose Carvajal, to CoopeGuanacaste and Gerry Boule for working with KSTR to save the wildlife.
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AuthorThe Kids Saving the Rainforest staff Archives
September 2019
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Thank you for helping us to save the wildlife in the rainforest!